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Shields strong as Rays top Orioles in opener

Mar 31, 2008 - 11:29 PM BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- James Shields may not be the Tampa Bay Rays' No. 1 starter. But the righthander pitched like it on Opening Day.

Shields pitched seven strong innings and B.J. Upton had a two-run single to lead the Rays to a 6-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles in Monday's season opener for both teams.

Eric Hinske homered and scored twice for Tampa Bay, which had seven of its nine starters either score or drive in a run in the game. Eight players also recorded at least one hit.

"Really have to give credit to the hitters," Shields said. "They made it easy for me."

But the story was Shields (1-0), who was on the mound because Scott Kazmir, Tampa Bay's ace, is on the 15-day disabled list with a left elbow injury.

Shields gave up a two-run double to Kevin Millar in the first inning but did not allow a runner past first base for the rest of the contest.

Shields, who went 12-8 for the Rays last season, surrendered just five hits and three walks with two strikeouts.

"He (Shields) wasn't as sharp as he usually is, but he knows how to pitch," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "He's a competitor."

As Shields settled down from a rough start, the balanced Tampa Bay offense responded in the third inning, giving the Rays the lead for good.

After an error by third baseman Melvin Mora plated one run for the Rays, Upton bounced a ball through the hole into left field, giving the Rays a 3-2 advantage as Carl Crawford and Akinori Iwamura scored.

"It looks like a line drive in the box score," Upton said jokingly. "We were amped up (early). We calmed down after the third inning and played the game."

Hinske's blast to right field to lead off the fourth inning gave the Rays a 4-2 lead, and Tampa Bay tacked on two more runs in the sixth off Baltimore starter Jeremy Guthrie.

"It was a fastball over the plate," Hinske said. "It feels good to hit a home run to help your team win."

Dioner Navarro and Jason Bartlett each had an RBI single in the inning to end the day for Guthrie (0-1), who gave up all six runs - five earned - and nine hits in 5 1/3 innings.

"Guthrie didn't have his best stuff today, not the best command of his pitches," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. "Guthrie has always been a strikeout pitcher - let him get two strikes on you and he knows how to expand the zone."

Trever Miller and Al Reyes combined to pitch the eighth and Dan Wheeler worked a scoreless ninth to seal the win for Tampa Bay, which improved to 2-9 all-time in road openers.

Roberts went 2-for-2 with a pair of walks and a stolen base to lead Baltimore, which has lost four straight home games to Tampa Bay.